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Since April 2016, the Korean car manufacturer KIA has been making its contribution to minimizing carbon dioxide emissions in order to halt climate change with the new Crossover Niro. The Korean, which is equipped exclusively with a hybrid drive, had its world premiere in February 2016 at the Chicago Auto Show. Just two weeks after its market launch in Korea, those responsible posted almost 2.500 units in the order books. With this, KIA set the first sales record for a car in the green segment. The starting shot in Europe followed in July 2016 in the Netherlands and France. The compact has been available in Germany since September 2016. Designed and produced in cooperation with Hyundai Ioniq, the existing “mild hybrid” is deliberately followed by a plug-in hybrid, which celebrated its world premiere at the 87th Geneva Motor Show in March of this year. Its exterior places the Niro in the KIA portfolio right next to Sportage and Sorento. Not only as a chic compact, but also as a crossover with high utility value. The car manufacturers from Korea start the price list at 24.990 euros.
Review: Kia Niro 1.6 GDI "Vision"
Crossover from Korea with streamlined support
The Niro offers with the KIA known suspension (McPherson struts with gas pressure shock absorbers front and a multi-link rear axle) and the very direct steering a generally safe driving experience. Improved aerodynamics achieved by the vehicle, inter alia, by the firmly connected to the roof roof rail. With just under 1,80 meter width and 1,55 meter height, the car is also narrower and lower compared to its competitors. Its optimized wind-slipperiness has a positive effect on fuel consumption (4,4 liters in the standard test with 18 inch wheels) and exhaust emissions (101 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer) thanks to its mild-hybrid drive. We do not always reach the stated values, which is not only due to the values driven in the laboratory, because the Niro provides a decent level of driving pleasure.
Crossover with driving pleasure
The Korean hybrid crossover is on the road both as a long-distance vehicle and as an urban vehicle. In the city, narrow streets and fast lane changes are no problem for the Niro. Its steering is designed to be extremely safe, so that very relaxed driving and parking is possible in the city, especially with the small turning circle of 10,6 m. In rural areas he even masters unpaved roads. The Korean makes a good portion of driving fun with energetic support. Especially with its nominal maximum torque of 265 Newton meters at 1.000 - 2.000 revolutions of the total power, the unit can intensively increase its performance at any time. Combined with the six-speed dual clutch transmission, the Korean crossover can be efficiently steered through urban traffic, but this can only be done at acoustically high speeds. The only thing that makes the hybrid seem strained is motorway stretches, which is also reflected in consumption.
Despite hybrid batteries plenty of storage space
The crossover comes purely from its dimensions as a compact SUV. The vehicle in the sporty look of the KIA family, which is only available as a five-door model, shows its very chic and contemporary exterior. The front of the Korean is characterized by wide aprons pulled up to the sides. The brand logo is prominently framed on the radiator grille, and the rounded sides of the headlights continue in a virtual bead over the entire length of the vehicle before they curve upwards in front of the rear lights. At the rear, the headlights ensure a dynamic appearance. Inside, with a vehicle length of 4,36 meters, up to five people can be comfortably seated. The Niro impresses with its good material and processing quality. The clearly structured cockpit with the KIA navigation system (including 7-year KIA navigation map update) as an eye-catcher and control center, as well as the panoramic glass roof, ensure a generous feeling of space. Its 60:40 split rear seats not only give the vehicle great loading flexibility. It gives the passengers in the rear a lot of legroom. This folding mechanism increases the cargo space volume from 427 liters to more than a generous 1425 liters.
Driver assistance systems in an all-in package
The Niro has a wide range of equipment ex works. The basic version "Edition7" already has the Drive Mode Select system, an electronic stability program (ESC) with traction control (TCS), a cruise control system, a lane departure warning system (LKAS), hill descent aid (HAC) and LED daytime running lights. The middle equipment variant "Vision" has heated seats at the front, parking sensors at the rear, a leather steering wheel (heated), the KIA map navigation system (7 inches) including a 7-year Kia navigation update and a reversing camera. The third and last equipment variant "Spirit" complements the equipment list for "All-in". This includes the expansion of the navigation system to 8 inches, front parking sensors, privacy glazing, xenon headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, an inductive charging station for smartphones and a smart key and start button.
Affordable hybrid technology
The Korean, which gives it exclusively as a front-wheel drive, is available from a price of 24.990 Euro. But KIA offers a mature hybrid drive with a combustion and electric motor on a crankshaft and a total system performance of 1.6-liter GDI with 103,6 kW (141 PS). This engine is combined with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The surcharge for the second equipment "Vision" beats with 3.000 Euro. The all-round carefree package of the third equipment variant "Spirit" can be purchased for the final price of 30.690 Euro.
And finally ... With the Niro, KIA is working very well in the crossover segment and is setting itself apart from the competition with the drive concept of the hybrid. In addition, the combination of space and use of the vehicle as well as a chic look is very successful.
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KIA |
Stainless steel 1.6 GDI |
| Motor | Hybrid, super gasoline |
| Capacity | 1.580 ccm³ |
| Overall performance | 141 PS @ 5.700 RPM |
| Total power | 265 Nm @ 1.000 - 2.000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed dual clutch transmission |
| drive axle | front-wheel drive |
| Length Width Height | 4.355, 1.805, 1.545 mm |
| wheelbase | 2.700 mm |
| Empty weight | 1.587 kg |
| turning circle | 10,6m |
| top speed | 162 km / h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 11,5 sec |
| standard consumption | 4.4 l / 100 km |
| everyday driver | 4.9 l / 100 km |
| Eco-expert | 4.1 l / 100 km |
| Field service mode | 5.6 l / 100km |